Eastland may have learned that the hard way Saturday, losing its first conference game against East Dubuque, 55-54.

It was perhaps a teachable moment for the Cougars as they enter a Pearl City Regional that's more difficult than it appears to be on paper.

"I hope this was a lesson to them that they can lose to anybody," Eastland coach Colleen Finn-Henze said. "It's a tough regional and it's going to take stringing together a couple of really good games to win for anybody.

"That's the thing about the regionals. Even if you didn't have a great season, you could string together a few victories and win a regional. If you've had a good season, you could go home early if you don't bring your 'A' game. It's a life lesson for these kids and I hope they're prepared for that."

No. 1-seeded Eastland (23-5) won't have to worry about seeing East Dubuque (16-6) in the Pearl City Regional, as the Warriors will travel to the Warren Regional. But the Cougars are still in a deceptively deep pool. No. 2 Aquin (20-9) has won 13 straight games en route to an NUIC East championship, No. 3 Pearl City (15-10) has a victory over Aquin this year, and fourth-seeded Lena-Winslow has won four of its five games, including an overtime win against River Ridge-Scales Mound (16-9) and a victory against East Dubuque.

"We're kind of sensing that we're playing well," Lena-Winslow coach Ryan Hahne said. "But we just haven't been able to put together a full, complete game.

"If we can put it all together against an elite team, this week in regionals would be a good time to do that."

Fifth seed Forreston (16-13) has eight wins in its past 11 contests as well. Le-Win and Forreston square off tonight at 6.

"They're a solid team and have two girls in Maggie Curry and Rachel Walton that can really shoot the ball from the outside," Hahne said of Forreston. "They also have some size.

"So we have to stop their effort on the board and their shooters from getting hot."

Eastland will take on the winner of today's quarterfinal between the Panthers and Cardinals.

Pearl City and Orangeville (5-18) also meet today at 8 p.m. and the winner will play Aquin. The Bulldogs are coming into the postseason a bit banged up.

Rachel Harn injured her knee Friday against Pecatonica. Katie Stykel was also out with an injury.

"It's too bad they've got those injuries right now," Dakota coach Kevin Cline said. "But you're looking at four or five teams that could possibly win a regional."

Dakota (23-6) will play in the Christian Life Regional with Durand (20-7), host Christian Life (10-11), Alden-Hebron, South Beloit (4-16) and Kirkland Hiawatha. Unlike the Pearl City and Warren Regional, most of the teams are unfamiliar with each other.

Page 2 of 2 - Two that are very familiar are the top two seeds: Dakota and Durand. The Indians have won 13 of their past 15 games including all three this season. But Dakota's Cline isn't taking anything for granted.

"We're doing anything but counting our chickens before they hatch," he said. "They're a better team than what they've shown in the three times we've played them. Christian Life is a solid team too.

"But it feels like more of a postseason run when you do see teams you're not used to and get out of the area."

That's exactly the opposite of the Warren Regional, which features East Dubuque, RR-SM, Galena (15-9), Stockton (12-14) and Warren (3-23). It's essentially an NUIC West tournament without conference champion Eastland.

"How in the world would you ever pick a favorite out there?" Cline said.

"They're all good and you can't sleep on Warren," Hahne said. "They just took River Ridge to overtime last weekend.

"They have a sophomore class and you have to worry about them in the next two years."

Pecatonica (9-19) will have an uphill battle to climb as the fifth seed in the Stillman Valley Regional. Big Northern standouts Byron (25-3) and Rockford Christian (17-8) are the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds.

West Carroll (2-23) is the fifth seed in the Oregon Tournament, with host Oregon (16-11), Morrison, Sterling Newman and Fulton seeded higher.